Your thoughts on my Rig issues

Hi everyone. I'm new to TalkBass. I usually hang out at another forum, but thought I'd give this one a try for a while, too.

Anyway, I thought I'd ask for some input here on my ever changing rig. I play a fretless 6, fretted 5, and upright with a K&K Bass Max pickup. I have a QSC PLX 1202 power amp and a Bergantino HT112 cab. I like things light and small.

I am currently using a PodXT. I like it for the electrics ok, although I tend to use only a couple settings and not many effects - if any. I bought it because I thought an Avalon U5, Presonus BlueMax Compressor, Boss Tuner and SansAmp BDDI were too much hassle to carry around. I wanted a small, simple rig.

Well, The upright just doesn't sound like it did with the Avalon. The electrics are OK, but...did I screw up going to this rig? I don't gig alot and it's mostly small clubs playing in jazz quartets or a local big band or musicals.

The Avalon and the POD are two different beasts designed for two different things. If you're amplifying an upright you really ought to be using a 'real' DI/preamp (like the Avalon).

If it were me redoing your rig and I had a little money to throw around (which seems to be your case), I'd dump the QSC in favor of a Stewart World 1.2. Then you could fit it into a two space rack like Isimy suggested and it would allow another whole rack space for a pre/DI and compression. Plus it doesn't have an onboard fan.

Since the Avalon U5 isn't going to fit into a 2U with an amp, I'd suggest a FMR RNP to use as your DI, or maybe a Great River 1NV if you're feeling saucy. There are other decent options if you need a more tubey sound. Others could suggest better than me on this one but I really liked the SWR Interstellar Overdrive as a tube bass preamp/DI.

There are a ton of options for compression, most of which will fit in the remaining space in your rack, if you have one. My personal favorite is a pedal: the discontinued Trace SMX dual band compressor.

I had a Stewart 1.2 but it seemed to get really hot and had to be treated like a 2 space amp by the time you left a space for some air to circulate. That's why I went with the QSC PLX 1202.

I am trying to not have a big heavy rack of gear - hence the PodXT. I have the amp in a 2 space rack. I was happy with the PreSonus Blue Max compressor - small and easy - as was the Boss TU-2 Tuner/Mute pedal. Easy "brief case" fit. The Avalon is relatively large and heavy. Doesn't fit the briefcase. I'd rather not have another rack case to carry.

personally i like your old rig better. Food for thought. The preamp section of the avalon is probably a $200 unit. The preamp in the pod might be $5. You get what you pay for. Quite frankly, the avaolon is big compared to a pod, but its not that big. Just because it wont fit in your breifcase doesn't mean it wont fit in any breifcase. FWIW, tuki could probably make you a padded case for uit, and i think i have seen some u5's offered with cases.

Steve, have you ever considered trying your upright and electrics through a hybrid amp head with an onboard compressor? Eden and Trace Elliot are two that come to mind immediately which only take 2U of space.

Get a good mic pre with an instrument level in. The U5 is great but it's a hassle to move with ... not real flexible either ... I'm using the ART Tube Channel but that one is discontinued. If you find one used it's a $150 to $200 buy and is worth a lot more.

I have also thought about getting a PreSonus Tube pre to use with the PreSonus Blue Max compressor. I love the compressor, maybe the preamp is good, too.

The problem is, I know for my upright bass that the Avalon preset 3 sounds great. The Art and others don't have tone shaping that I know I need to make that upright sound good. If I need to bring an EQ of some kind, I could just as well get the Avalon that has that built in.

If it was just for my electric basses, it would be easy as I have 3 band active EQ on both. The upright is what causes the problem and that is what is currently getting me gigs.